Darbhanga, Aug. 20: The death of Darbhanga divisional jail inmate Shiyaram Sahani has triggered allegations of convicts running an extortion racket in alleged collusion with the prison administration.

Leading the tirade of charges, Ashok Sahani, a former inmate and a cousin of Shiyaram, lodged an FIR against some unknown inmates on Sunday evening, alleging that his cousin was killed in the jail on Saturday.

Ashok told The Telegraph: “I have an experience of being a new inmate in Darbhanga divisional jail. I was forced to pay Rs 200 to a senior inmate to ensure my safety. Since the inmates, who demand money, are notorious and have links outside the jail, no new inmate who are jailed even for a week wants to divulge such information to anyone. All these things are done in collusion with jail administration.”

Countering the charge, jailor Ramadhar Singh said: “The inmates who claim to be tortured inside the jail never complained about it while behind bars. Inmates should at least have informed us about the extortion demands. We have no knowledge about any such practice.”

District magistrate Narmadeshwar Lal said: “Since Shiyaram’s family has registered a case stating that he was killed, the case would be investigated. The charge about the extortion racket will surely be probed.”

Rajesh Kumar, a former inmate who was in jail for a week in November last year, said: “I was lodged in the general ward of Darbhanga divisional jail. A group of inmates demanded Rs 2,000 from me. They gave me a cellphone to call up my family. I told my family members to pay them the money as I was extremely scared of them.”